Jails are warehouses for the mentally ill: Mitchell

Because jails have become an acceptable place to warehouse the mentally ill, Jawaun Westbrooks, whose family says he suffers from a bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, was in a position to allegedly assault two women with a hammer near Navy Pier last week.

“I feel sorry for the ladies. They didn’t deserve that. But if something would have been done sooner, all of this could have been avoided,” said Corneal Westbrooks, the mentally ill man’s brother.

Since his brother was diagnosed with mental illness 10 years ago, Westbrooks said, the 28-year-old has been in and out of jails for offenses, including loitering and aggravated battery to a police officer…READ MORE